Depth charge pistol



Dec. 31, 1963 M. E. GRES DEPTH CHARGE PISTOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 FHGJ.

Ill 11 1 I Z? 7 4 I. w

INVENTOR MARCEL E. GRES ATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1963 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 M. E. GRES DEPTH' CHARGE PISTOL ATTORNEYS Dec. 31, 1963 M. E. GRES DEPTH CHARGE PISTOL 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1954 FIG.5.

FIGB.

FICA.

INVENTOR MARCEL E. GRES I06 I09 I07 I22 Dec. 31, 1963 M. E. GRES 3,115,332

DEPTH'CHARGE PISTQL Filed Feb. 10. 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I l ILWIII INVENTOR MARCEL E. GRES v 4?. M H-zda ATTORNEYS Unite States l atent 3,115,832 DEPTH CHARGE PISTGL Marcel E. Gres, Austin, Tex., assignor, by means assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Filed Feb. 10, 1954, Ser. No. 4139,5 28 9 Claims. (til. ltl2-7) This invention relates to depth charge pistols. More particularly the invention relates to a pistol for a rocket propelled depth charge in which provision is made for preselecting the depth of firing of the depth charge by setting an indexing mechanism immediatly prior to launching, the indexing mechanism being operated by remote control from a selector station. The pistol of the present invention also provides for preselection of both depth firing and magnetic influence firing of the depth charge whichever occurs first, influence firing alone, or the depth charge may be deactivated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved remote-controlled depth charge pistol in which the pistol is set prior to launching and is armed after the launching thereof.

Another object is to provide a new and improved remote-controlled depth charge pistol in which the pistol is set to fire at a predetermined depth and to fire by magnetic influence depending on whether the depth charge first reaches the predetermined depth or the vicinity of a magnetic target.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved remote-controlled depth charge pistol in which the pistol is accurately preset to fire at a predetermined depth or the setting may be erased for purposes of safety if it is decided not to launch the depth charge after setting or, if desired, the pistol may be reset to fire at a different depth.

A further object is to provide a new and improved pistol for a rocket propelled depth charge in which the magnetic parts are jettisoned during the flight of the depth charge thus to prevent interference thereof with the magnetic influence firing system.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the pistol of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device and showing the components in somewhat schematic arrangement to more clearly indicate the interrelation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the device of FIG. 2 and showing the components in normal position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view of indexing mechanism and drive therefor, the indexing disks being shown in locked engagement;

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of a camming socket for the indexing shaft;

FIG. 6 is a view partly in section and partly in eleva tion and showing the expendable portion being jettisoned;

FIG. 7 is a bottom plan of the expendable portion and showing the locking means therefor;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 88 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view taken at an angle indicated by line 9-9 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 0 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a detail section of the arming mechanism and showing the filament switch;

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of the sequence of op eration of the pistol of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged sectional View of the arming mechanism with the mechanism in an armed condition.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, the depth charge pistol of the present invention is indicated generally at W and is mounted preferably in the nose of a rocket-propelled depth charge 11. Pistol it is provided with an expendable portion 12 wherein important parts are of magnetic materials and a portion 13 which comprises non-magnetic materials and which is positively fixed to the depth charge 11.

The expendable portion 12a comprises a casing 14 having mounted in an axial recess 15 in the end thereof a reduction gear assembly indicated generally at 16, the hollow cylindrical housing 17 thereof having internal gear teeth 13 and upper and lower end cover plates 19 and 21, respectively. A hollow shaft member 22 is axially supported in lower plate 21 for rotation therein. Drum 23 is rotatably supported on the upper end of shaft 22 and in end plate 19. A gear 24 is pinned to hub of drum Z3 and meshes with planetary gear 25 rotatively mounted eccentrically on disk '26, which rotates on shaft 22,. Planetary gear 25 also meshes with internal gear teeth 13. Each of the disks 26, 27 and 28 is made in the same manner and is provided with planetary gear 25 and gear 24. A disk 2 is formed integrally with shaft 22 and the eccentrically mounted for rotation thereon a gear 31 which meshes with gear 24 of disk 28. Shaft 22 has integrally formed thereon a hollow hub portion 32 having an internal circumferential groove 33 and a pair of drive pins 34 therein for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully escribed.

Mounted in axial alignment with shaft 22 and set within drum 23 is a centrifugal clutch mechanism 35 which comprises a hollow shaft 36 having a pair of spaced disks 37 and 38 formed in spaced relation thereon. Shaft 36 is supported by ball bearing 39 mounted in cover plate 4i which is secured to casing 14 by screws 42.

Pins 43 support a plurality of spring biased centrifugally actuated clutch members 44, the spring being indicated at 45.

A vane propeller 46 is fixedly mounted on a collar 47 fixed to the outer end of shaft 36 by set screw 48.

From the foregoing it is seen that rotation of propeller 46 by passage of the depth charge through the air drives clutch member 44 at a speed suflicient to cause the engagement thereof with drum 23 and driving the drum and causing the gears of the reduction gear assembly 16 to rotate, thus it is clear that by reason of the reduction gearing the rotation of the hub 32 will be slow in comparison with the speed of rotation of the propeller. It is also clear that the propeller is completely disconnected from the reduction gearing through use of the centrifugal clutch prior to launching of the depth charge and the clutch engages when the propeller attains a predetermined rotative speed governed by the tension of springs 45.

Casing 14 rests on mounting plate 49 which is secured to the casing 51 of the depth charge 11. Casing 14 is provided with a plurality of bores 52 in the flange 53 thereof, locating pins 54 set in plate 49 being adapted to pass into bores 52 to assure proper alignment of casing 14 and associated apparatus with plate 49. A helical spring 55 is interposed between plate 49 and a shoulder 56, the purpose of which is to force the casing 14 and associated magnetic mechanism away from the plate 49 when the casing and mechanism have been released in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described.

A sleeve 57 is fitted into hollow hub portion 32, sleeve 57 being attached to shaft 58 by pin 59. Transverse bores 61 in sleeve 57 contain locking balls 62, the balls being urged outwardly into locking engagement with groove 33 of hub 32 by spring 63 and an axial plunger 64 mounted in bore 65 in sleeve 57. Sleeve 57 is provided at one end thereof with a pair of notches 66 to receive the pins 34 of hub 32 thus providing a positive drive between hub 32 and sleeve 57. A sleeve 67 is slidably mounted on sleeve 57 and urged upwardly by spring 68 to retain balls 62 in bores 61 prior to insertion of sleeve 57 into hub portion 32, the plunger 64 being held below the balls and against the spring 63. paratus forms a convenient means of quickly attaching the reduction gearing to the shaft 58. If desired the ball lock may be released after locking by inserting a rod [not shown] through hollow shaft 22 and forcing plunger 64 down below the balls against spring 63.

The lower end of shaft 58 is formed with a socket 69 into which indexing shaft 71 extends. The socketed end of shaft 58 is rotatively supported by ball bearings 72 in bearing support 73 threaded into cover plate 74 of indexing casing 75.

A rotary solenoid 76 is mounted on cover plate 74 and is radially spaced from shaft 58. The solenoid 76 is of a type which drives shaft 77 thereof rotatively a predetermined distance for each electrical impulse received thereby, thus rotating ratchet wheel 78 which is attached to shaft 77. A complementary ratchet wheel 79 is engaged and rotated by wheel 78 during each rotation thereof, thus driving gear 81 through shaft 82 to which wheel 79 is attached. Shaft 82 is rotatively supported in ball bearings 83 and 84-. Gear 81 drives indexing gear 85 which has mounted thereon and projecting therefrom diametri cally opposed indexing pins 86 and 87. Gear 85 is mounted co-axially with respect to indexing shaft 71 and is supported on roller bearing 88. Shaft 71 has integrally formed thereon an indexing disk 89 which is formed with a pair ofbores 91 and 92 adapted to receive pins 86 and 87, respectively. Pins 86 and 87 and bores 91 and 92 are spaced from the axis and are varied in size such that the pins of gear 85 align with the bores of disk 89 once for each revolution of the indexing gear 85; better understood by reference to applicants copending application Serial No. 418,484, filed March 24, 1954, now U.S. Patent No. 2,990,046, for Electro-mechanical Indexing Clutch, and particularly to FIG. 4 thereof.

Initially, the disk 89 is spaced from the ends of pins 8-6 and 87 as shown in FIG. 1, thus to permit free turning of the index gear 85 while being driven by solenoid 76. In order to supply solenoid 76 with the depth setting signal, a plurality of collector rings 93 are mounted externally of the casing 51, rings 93 being electrically insulated from the casing and from each other by rings of insulating material 94. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, there are three collector rings 93 and four insulator rings 94. Conductors 95 connected to rings 93 carry power impulses from a remotely located selector station through brushes 96 as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 2, the brushes being mounted on the ready ring of the rocket launcher [not shown].

The shaft 58 is provided with an enlarged end 97 in which the socket 69 is formed, there being a pair of cam slots 98 in the walls of end 97. Slots 98 are provided with lateral runs 99 at the lower ends thereof and helical runs 161 running upwardly therefrom. A pin 102 is fixed laterally in shaft 71 each end of which extends into one of the slots 98. It will thus be seen that, prior to launch 'ing, the pin 102 is positioned in the lateral run 99 of each slot, thus holding indexing disk 89 spaced from pins 86 and 87, as aforesaid. As the propeller 46 is rotated after launching, shaft 58 is rotated until pin 102 which rides in runs 99 reaches the runs 181 whereupon shaft 71 moves upwardly in a manner to be hereinafter more fully de scribed until disk 89 contacts pins 86 and 87. Disk 89 continues to be rotated until bores 91 and 92 align with It is understood that the foregoing appins 86 and 87, respectively. Disk 89 moves into locking engagement with gear 85, the pins entering the bores.

Indexing casing 75 is provided with a discontinuous circumferential flange or ring 183 which is initially held by fingers 104 in bore 185 of plate 49 to retain casing 75 and the expendable portion 12 on plate 49 which is fixed to the depth charge 11. In order to prevent rotation of casing 75, a pair of spring-biased plungers 106 are radially mounted in bores 107 in casing 75 and engage notches 188 in bore 185 of plate 49. Springs 189 urge plungers 196 against shaft 7 1, the shaft normally preventing movement of the plungers 186 out of notches 108. Shaft 71 under action of spring 123 moves upwardly as pin 102 moves to the upper limit of runs 181 of slot 98 which brings reduced portion 118 of shaft 71 into alignment with plungers 186, plungers 106 move toward the axis of shaft 71 under action of springs 11, 9, the other end of the plungers moving out of notches 188 thus freeing casing 75 for rotation.

With shaft 71 locked to indexing gear and gear 81 locked against reverse rotation by ratchet wheel 111 on shaft 82 and stop pawl 112, casing 7 5 is rotated, by propeller 46 through reduction gear 16 and associated mechanism, to a position whereby the spaces 113 between sections of discontinuous ring 183 align with fingers 104. When this occurs, spring 55 forces expendable portion 12 away from plate 49, thus the portion 12 drops away from the depth charge 11 during the flight thereof. This is accomplished in order to free the depth charge of the magnetic material contained in expendable portion 12 thus to prevent the interference thereof with a magnetic detection apparatus contained in the depth charge.

The fixed portion 13 of the depth charge pistol of the present invention, that is, the portion which remains with the depth charge after the expendable portion 12 has been released is retained by the mounting plate 49 which is fixed to the casing of the depth charge 11. A second mounting plate 114 is fixed to plate 49 and supports a depth setting apparatus indicated generally at 115 and a hydrostatically operated safety device indicated generally at 116, as well as the various switches necessary for the operation of the arming and firing of the depth charge.

Housing117 is provided with a bore in axial alignment with shaft 71 and receives therein shaft 118 formed with a socketed end 119 having a pair of oppositely disposed slots 121. Shaft 71 is adapted to extend into socketed end 119 and has a transverse pin 122 set therein, the outer ends of which set in slots 121, thus completing a drive connection between shafts 71 and 118. A spring 123 set in socketed end 119 urges shaft 71 upwardly and urges indexing disk 89 toward indexing gear 85, as has been heretofore mentioned. Shaft 118 is provided with a circumferential groove 124 which accommodates an O-ring gasket 125 to prevent ingress of moisture.

Adjacent the opposite end of shaft 118 a pair of cams 126 and 127 are fixed thereto. Fixed adjacent cams 126 and 127 are the switches IS and DS. Switch IS is energized by cam 126 when indexing disk 89 is locked in a selected position indicative of Influence Only which is a position in which the depth setting apparatus is nullified in any well known manner such, for example, as by opening the depth firing circuit. Switch DS is operated by cam 127 when indexing disk 89 is locked in a selected position indicative of Dud in which the firing circuits are deenergized thus preventing firing of the depth charge by either influence or depth. The end of shaft 118 adjacent cams 126, 127 has fixed thereon a drive gear 128 meshing with gear 129 of depth setting apparatus 115. Gear 129 is fixed to shaft 131 of feed screw 132. Feed screw 132 is threaded into a cupped spring support 133 which is fitted with a key 134 riding in keyway 135 in bore 136 of housing 117. Shaft 131 is rotatively supported on ball bearings 137 mounted in closure plate 138 set in the end of bore 136. O-ring gaskets 139 and 141 are set in grooves in plate 138 between the plate and shaft 131 and the plate and bore 136. Spring support 133 is provided with a bore 142 to receive stem 143 of valve disk 144. A spring 145 is interposed between support 133 and disk 144. Bore 136 is closed at the outer end thereof by a threaded closure 146 which has a circumferential groove 147 communicating with bore 148 through side of casing 117. O-ring gaskets 149 are set in grooves 151 above and below groove 147 to prevent leakage of water therefrom. Closure 146 is provided with an axial bore 152 therethrough for threadedly receiving an adjustable plug 153. Plug 153 bears against valve disk 144, plug 153 having an axial bore 154 extending part way therethrough and having transverse bores 155 communicating with transverse bores 156 in closure 146 which, in turn, communicate with groove 147.

Axial bore 152 is provided with circumferential grooves 157 above and below bores 156, grooves 157 receiving (3- ring gaskets 153 to prevent leakage of water therebeyond. Disk 144 is provided with an axial stud 159 which extends into bore 154 and through bore 161 in cap 162 fitted on lower end of plug 153. An Q-ring gasket 163 is set in groove 164 in cap 162 and engages stud 159 in leakproof relation therewith.

Bore 148 communicates with passage 165 leading to hydro-delay valve 165. Hydro-delay valve 166 is similar to the valve disclosed in my copending application of Marcel E. Gres for Pressure Responsive Valve, Serial No. 399,842, filed December 22, 1953, now Patent No. 2,994,- 267, and has incorporated therein, a normally locked piston 166' and a pressure responsive element 165 yieldably supported within the piston for preventing surge of pressure in passage 165 when depth charge 11 enters the water, thus to prevent spurious operation of depth setting apparatus 115. The hydro-delay valve is arranged to permit water to enter passage 165 after the preliminary surge due to the depth charge striking the water, the pressure of the water gradually rising until the pressure is sufficient to actuate the valve to an open position, as the depth charge sinks. Water enters hydro-delay valve 166 from the exterior through port 167 and flows into passage 165 by way of ports 167' in piston 166', port 1% in the valve casirn and conduit 1:71.

A hydraulic pressure actuated switch 168 is threadedly mounted in bore 1o9 of casing 117 and communicates with the bore 1.36, switch 168 energizing the firing circuit of the depth charge when the depth charge reaches a predetermined depth of submersion. Switch 168 may be of any conventional type having a pair of normally open contacts 16% adapted to be closed by action of a diaphragm 169'.

In operation, after the initial surge of pressure and when the depth charge has attained its equilibrium sinking speed, valve 166 permits entry of Water into depth setting apparatus 115 through ports or passages 165, 148, 156, 155 into bore 154 and against stud 159. When pressure against stud 159 reaches a predetermined value in accordance with the tension on spring 145 governed by the setting of feed screw 132, disk 144 is forced downwardly, compressing spring 145 and permitting bore 136 to be flooded by water. Pressure of the water in bore 136 causes actuation of hydrostatic switch 168 thus energizing the firing circuit and firing the depth charge at a predetermined depth of submersion, the arming hydrostat indicated generally at 171 having actuated, in a manner to be hereinafter more fully described, the rotating arming device 174) in which the electrical circuit to the detonators and the firing train are completed. The aforesaid device 171) is generally similar to the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of Theodore E. Dinsmoor, Serial No. 258,974, filed November 29, 1951, for an Arming Device for a Torpedo Exploder, which matured into Patent No. 2,748,704, June 5, 1956.

The arming hydrostat 171 comprises an outer casing 172 fixed in plate 114 and extending downwardly as shown in FIG. 2. A rotatable tubular member 173 is mounted within the casing 172 and has an operating pin 174 projecting from the upper end thereof. Pin 174 rides in cam groove 175 formed in the lower face of indexing casing 75, groove 175 and pin 174 causing member 173 to rotate as the casing 75 rotates immediately prior to jettison of the magnetic expendable portion 12 as described heretofore. Member 173 is provided with cam slot 181) which engages pin 2th of a filament switch 201 for energizing the filaments of the magnetic detector circuit (not shown) as member 173 is rotated.

Mounted within member 173 is a hydraulically operated piston 176 having an O-ring seal 177 on the upper end thereof in engagement with member 173. Casing 172 is provided with an elongated slot 178 having a single longitudinal run, while member 173 is provided with a similar slot 179 and having a lateral run 181 extending from the upper end thereof. A pin 182 is threaded into and extends from the piston 176 and through the slots 178 and 179. Initially the pin 182 is set in the run 181 of slot 179 to prevent downward motion of piston 176. As casing 75 rotates, member 173 is rotated by pin 174 to release pin 182 by aligning the longitudinal runs of slots 173 and 179, thus freeing pin 182 and piston 176 for downward travel under action of water pressure.

As expendable portion 12 leaves the pistol 10, ports 183 in closed end 184 of member 173 are opened to receive water under pressure as the depth charge strikes the body of water. The water enters chamber 185 and forces piston 176 downwardly.

The downward motion of piston 176 causes pin 182 to put tension on a spring 186 which forms a connecting link between operating lever 187 of sterilizing clock 188 and pin 182. Movement of lever 187 causes release of the clock 158 as the lever 137 engages the release element 182' of the clock whereupon the clock starts counting a time-delay period prior to closing of a sterilizing switch 138 incorporated in the clock mechanism and which sterilizes by shorting the firing circuit of the depth charge after a predetermined period of time such, for example, as 60 seconds. The sterilizing clock 188 is generally similar to the type disclosed and claimed in the copending application of James B. Glennon et al., Serial No. 395,230, filed May 26, 1941, now US. Patent No. 2,833,223, for Firing Mechanism fora Submarine Mine.

Piston 176 is provided at the lower end thereof with a reduced portion 139 having mounted therein a transverse pin 191. Casing 172 has a shoulder 132 against which the lower end of tubular member 173 rests. A sleeve member 193 is mounted in the lower end of casing 172 and has a pair of helical slots 1% cut through the side walls thereof. The outer ends of pin 191 ride in slots 194 as piston 17d moves inwardly by pressure of the water. It is, of course, clear that as pin 191 moves downwardly in slots 194, sleeve 19.3 rotates, sleeve 193 having a stub shaft 195 formed integrally therewith at the lower end thereof which is rotatively supported by ball bearing 196 set in casing 172.

Mounted on the end of stub shaft 195 is a gear 197 which drives gear 198 of arming mechanism 170. The arming mechanism has an arming rotor 2113 operated by rotation of gear 198 for closing a pair of arming switches 2114 in the firing circuit and establishing an electrical connection to a pair of detonators 2115. Operation of the rotor 2133 also serves to align a pair of firing trains 206 leading to a booster charge 207 for firing the main charge 2% of the depth charge.

Referring particularly to FIG. 12 which is a block diagram showing the sequence of operation of the pistol of the present invention, selector station A, which is mounted remotely from the depth charge 10, counts and transmits the number of electrical pulses indicative of the depth at which the depth charge will fire, the placing of the depth charge under magnetic influence only, or placing the firing circuit in safe condition, to the indexing mechanism or clutch B of the pistol. This information is indexed and retained in the indexing mechanism B unless erased by signal from station A. The missile, including the depth charge and the rocket carrier therefor, is fired from the launcher and air drive C moves the depth sensing hydrostat E to the setting indicated by the indexing mechanism B. Air drive C closes the filament switch of the magnetometer circuit of the magnetic influence mechanism and releases the hydrostatic arming device G. Upon performance of the foregoing operations the magnetic parts of the pistol are jettisoned at F.

The missile enters the water and the impact pressure I completes the operation of arming device G by initiating the time delay of sterilizer switch M, aligning the explosive train I and closing the electrical arming circuit K. The impact pressure also initiates the hydro-delay function H which prevents the pressure from reaching the depth sensing hydrostat E until the depth charge has reached its equilibrium sinking speed. When the depth charge reaches the depth at which the hydrostat E has been set, the firing switch L is actuated by the water pressure. If the firing switch is not actuated, sterilizer switch M grounds energy source N at 60 seconds from the time sterilizer switch M is actuated by the hydrostatic arming device G thus sterilizing the depth charge.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What 'is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge having an arming device operable to arm the depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, a fixed portion mounted on said depth charge and an expendable portion releasably mounted on said fixed portion, air driven impeller means mounted on said expendable portion, said expendable portion including a rotatable and axially movable first index disk driven by said impeller means and a rotatable second index disk adapted to be driven to a plurality of positions, remotely controlled means mounted within said expendable portion and operatively connected to said second disk for driving the same to a selected one of said plurality of positions, interengageable means on said disks for locking said disks against relative rotation when said interengageable means are in registry, said first index disk being adapted to be driven by said impeller means to a position in which said interengageable means are in registry, depth setting means driven by said impeller means to an adjusted position indicative of depth of submersion in accordance with the selected position of said second disk, a hydrostatic firing switch for said depth charge and controlled by said depth setting means, means for conducting water to said depth setting means including means for preventing the pressure surge as the depth charge strikes a body of Water from reaching said depth setting means, said means for conducting water permitting water to reach said depth setting means when the depth charge has attained its equilibrium sinking speed whereby the firing switch is operated when the depth charge reaches the selected depth of submersion, means within said fixed portion for operating said arming device to arm said depth charge, said last-named means including a part driven by said impeller means and a pressure responsive piston, latching means releasably securing the expendable portion to the fixed portion, and means driven by the impeller means for releasing said latching means whereby the expendable portion is jettisoned.

2. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, air driven impeller means, a first disk having indexing means thereon and driven by said impeller means, a second disk having indexing means thereon and coaxially mounted with respect to the first disk, remotely controlled means operatively connected to said second disk for setting the same at a selected one of a plurality of positions indicative of depths of submersion, said indexing means of the disks being adapted to be aligned and when aligned to interengage whereupon the disks are locked against relative rotation, depth responsive firing means adapted to be driven by said impeller means to a position in accordance with the selected position of the second disk and operable at the selected position by hydrostatic pressure prevailing at such depth to fire said depth charge, means including a piston movable in response to hydrostatic pressure for arming said depth charge, and time delay means initiated by movement of said piston to sterilize the depth charge after a predetermined period of time.

3. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, an impeller, a first disk driven by said impeller and having indexing means, a remotely controlled second disk coaxially mounted with respect to said first disk and having indexing means, said second disk being adapted to be set at any one of a plurality of rotative positions, said indexing means of said disks being adapted to be aligned and when aligned to inter engage whereupon the disks are locked against relative rotation, means including a piston movable in response to hydrostatic pressure for arming said depth charge, variable pressure sensitive hydrostatic means for firing said depth charge, means driven by said impeller for varying the pressure sensitivity of said hydrostatic means whereby the depth charge is fired at varying depths in accordance with the set position of the second disk, and means initiated by movement of said piston for sterilizing said depth charge after a predetermined period of time.

4. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, air driven first indexing means, remotely controlled second indexing means adapted to be moved to any selected one of a plurality of indexing positions corresponding to operative functions of said depth charge, said first indexing means being driven during the flight of the depth charge into a position in registration with the selected position of the second indexing means, means on said indexing means for locking said first and second indexing means against relative rotation when registration thereof is accomplished, means including a part operatively connected to said first indexing means and driven therewith, said last-named means being responsive to hydrostatic pressure for arming the depth charge, pressure sensitive hydrostatic means for firing said depth charge, and means operated by the driving of the first indexing means for varying the sensitivity of said hydrostatic means in accordance with the locked position of the indexing means whereby the depth charge is fired at a predetermined depth of submersion.

5. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, an expendable portion including air driven first indexing means and remotely controlled second indexing means adapted to be moved to any selected one of a plurality of indexing positions corresponding to operative functions of the depth charge, said first indexing means being driven during the flight of the depth charge into a position in registration with the selected position of the second indexing means, means on said indexing means for locking said first and second indexing means together against relative rotation with respect to the expendable portion when registration of the indexing means is accomplished, a fixed portion secured to the depth charge and including a mechanism having a part operatively connected to said first indexing means and driven therewith, said mechanism being responsive to hydrostatic pressure for arming the depth charge, hydrostatic pressure responsive means for firing said depth charge, means operatively connected with and driven by the first indexing means for varying the sensitivity of the pressure responsive means in accordance with the locked position of the indexing means, and means releasably securing the expendable portion and the fixed portion together, said last-named means being operable after the indexing means are locked together for releasing said expendable portion whereby the expendable portion is jettisoned.

6. A pistol for a rocket-propelled magnetic influence fired-pressure fired depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, air driven first indexing means, remote- 1y controlled second indexing means adapted to be rotated to a selected one of a plurality of positions corresponding to depths of submersion and other operating functions of the depth charge, said first indexing means being driven during the flight of the depth charge to a position in registration with the selected position of the second indexing means, means on said indexing means for locking said first and second indexing means together and against relative rotation when registration of the indexing means is accomplished, means including a part operatively connected with and drivenby said first indexing means and a piston movable in response to hydrostatic pressure for arming the depth charge, hydrostatic pressure responsive means for firing said depth charge, means driven by the first indexing means for varying the sensitivity of the pressure responsive means in accordance with the selected position of the second indexing means, means including a first cam driven by said first indexing means for causing said depth charge to fire on magnetic influence only in another position of the indexing means, means including a second cam driven by said first indexing means for preventing the firing of said depth charge in still another position of the indexing means, and time delay means initiated by movement of said piston for sterilizing the depth charge after a predetermined period of time.

7. A depth charge pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, a fixed casing mounted on the nose of said depth charge, an expendable casing releasably supported on said fixed casing, an air vaned propeller extending outwardly of the expendable casing and adapted to be rotated during the flight of the depth charge through the air, a centrifugally operated clutch mounted in said expendable casing and driven by said propeller, means for causing said clutch to engage when the propeller has reached a predetermined speed of rotation, a reduction gearing mounted in said expendable casing and driven by said clutch, an indexing disk mounted in said expendable casing and driven by said reduction gearing, said disk having registering means therein, a gear disk coaxially mounted with respect to said indexing disk and normally spaced therefrom and having registering means mounted thereon adapted to register with said indexing disk registering means, an impulse operated solenoid device for advancing a shaft a predetermined portion of a rotation for each impulse received thereby, a gear driven by said shaft and meshing with said gear disk whereby the gear disk is advanced rotatively in accordance with the number of impulses received by the solenoid, ratchet means for preventing rotation of said gear disk in a direction opposite to said advance rotation, rotatable locking means releasably locking said expendable casing to said fixed casing, means for moving said gear disk and said indexing disk into locking engagement when the registering means thereof are in alignment, cam means for holding said releasable locking means in locking relation and movable to release said locking means after the indexing disk moves into locking engagement, said ratchet means causing rotation of the releasable locking means by the propeller as the disks are rotated together, normally locked arming means for said depth charge carried by the fixed casing and movable in response to hydrostatic pressure and means operated by rotation of the releasable locking means for unlocking the arming means, said arming means being moved to armed position by hydrostatic pressure as the depth charge enters the water.

8. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, a first indexing means adapted to be driven by pulses to indexing position in accordance with the number of pulses received thereby, second indexing means adapted to be driven into a position registering with said first indexing means and locked in position in accordance with the number of said pulses, air driven means operatively connected to said second indexing means for driving the same, a depth setting mechanism driven to adjusted position by said air driven means and locked in said adjusted position when the second indexing means registers with said first indexing means, said depth setting mechanism having means responsive to pressure of the surrounding water for firing said depth charge, and valve means in said depth setting means for preventing entry of Water into said depth setting mechanism until the depth charge has reached the equilibrium sinking speed thereof.

9. A pistol for a rocket-propelled depth charge, said pistol comprising, in combination, first indexing means, second indexing means, remotely controlled stepping means operatively connected to said second indexing means for driving prior to launching said second indexing means whereby the second indexing means is rotated to a selected position in accordance with a selected number of impulses from a remote control station, air driven means operatively connected to said first indexing means for driving said first indexing means into registry with said second indexing means during the flight of said depth charge, said first and second indexing means looking together when registry thereof is accomplished, hydrostatic depth setting means driven to operate at a selected depth of submersion by the air driven means in accordance with a selected position of the second indexing means, firing means operable to fire the depth charge when the depth setting means reaches the selected depth of submersion, and normally locked hydrostatic arming means for said depth charge and unlocked as the indexing means are locked, said arming means being movable to the armed position thereof under action of hydrostatic pressure.

References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 431,378 Merriam July 1, 1890 1,534,126 Lucas et a1. Apr. 21, 1925 1,794,421 Ruhlemann Mar. 3, 1931 2,450,407 Bartgis Oct. 5, 1948 2,532,645 Rockwell Dec. 5, 1950 2,652,777 Graumann Sept. 22, 1953 2,687,094 Crozier Aug. 24, 1954 2,713,308 Brown July 19, 1955 2,781,724 Stockard Feb. 19, 1957 2,789,502 Willis Apr. 23, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 58,603 Sweden Ian. 7, 1924 

8. A PISTOL FOR A ROCKET-PROPELLED DEPTH CHARGE, SAID PISTOL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FIRST INDEXING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN BY PULSES TO INDEXING POSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NUMBER OF PULSES RECEIVED THEREBY, SECOND INDEXING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE DRIVEN INTO A POSITION REGISTERING WITH SAID FIRST INDEXING MEANS AND LOCKED IN POSITION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NUMBER OF SAID PULSES, AIR DRIVEN MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SECOND INDEXING MEANS FOR DRIVING THE SAME, A DEPTH SETTING MECHANISM DRIVEN TO ADJUSTED POSITION BY SAID AIR DRIVEN MEANS AND LOCKED IN SAID ADJUSTED POSITION WHEN THE SECOND INDEXING MEANS REGISTERS WITH SAID FIRST INDEXING MEANS, SAID DEPTH SETTING MECHANISM HAVING MEANS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSURE OF THE SURROUNDING WATER FOR FIRING SAID DEPTH CHARGE, AND VALVE MEANS IN SAID DEPTH SETTING MEANS FOR PREVENTING ENTRY OF WATER INTO SAID DEPTH SETTING MECHANISM UNTIL THE DEPTH CHARGE HAS REACHED THE EQUILIBRIUM SINKING SPEED THEREOF. 